U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

President Obama, along with a number of Senators and longtime ADA advocates, have urged rapid Senate ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, hailed in some quarters as an “international ADA”. Sen. Jim DeMint and other senators have objected to the super-fast-track proposed ratification schedule, arguing that the measure might affect the rights of homeschooling families caring for disabled children and that, in general, opponents deserve a right to be heard. If Senators take a closer look at the ambitious views of the treaty held by various disabled-rights and international-law advocates — one advocate says it could revolutionize the legal rights of the mentally ill, for example — they might find further reasons for caution. [hearing]

3 Comments

  • i am skeptical this treaty would do anything more than give more lawyers work. I am fairly certain, that treaty wont protect Americans with disabilities living abroad.

  • “United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”

    UN seems to be taking the bureaucratic path to a solution here.

    UN believes, and expects the world to believe, that its resolutions actually, you know, solve problems.

    Therefore the most practical solution is for UN to issue a resolution that there be no more disabilities in the world. Perhaps a short phase-in period would be necessary. Problem solved.

  • […] Human rights roulette: Senate could take up UN disabled-rights treaty in September [Stefano Gennarini, Turtle Bay and Beyond; earlier] […]